Chinese UAV/UCAV development
- Thread starter AssassinsMace
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I wonder what's the rationale for having a 3 propeller setup over say a more conventional single pusher/jet engine setup for those type of large long endurance drones.
Itd
It's TMD & Not SXMD. 54th CAB is a Medium CAB. Surprisingly, they are showing as Heavy
No Medium CABde in XiZang Military District.
52nd Mountain
53rd Light High Mobility
54th Heavy (Tracked and 2 Tank + 2 IFV Companies in the CABatallion)
Cheaper, less technologically complex, longer loiter time, better fuel efficiency, lower cruise speed, quieter.
I think the advantage is more of the three body design than 3 propellers although three body design makes 3 propellers possible. Note the first generation was 2 propellers without the pusher.
Conventional UAVs all have very wide wing span. That puts high demand on the strength and rigidity on the wings. A 3 body design makes the wing more rigid. The tail horizontal stabilizer is joined at the tail-boom making the central wing and fuselage a box. This is also why China made this
and this
Without this design for the same payload, speed and altitude, the wing would have be so long that no material can withstand or the wing has to be enforced so much that the payload/mass ratio would be very low.
Another advantage is the possibility of engine on each body, this will spread out the forward force over a wide length of the wing. Otherwise, the only force is in the centre which will twist the wing on the outer part reducing lift or even break it.
The limit of payload in conventional design is NOT really the engine power, but the strength of the long thin wing to remain rigid in the air flow.
supercat
Major
Global Times: Taiwan did not detect the UAV's flight.
There was flight activity by PLA a few weeks ago Reuters reported on based on unnamed Taiwanese sources but that official Taiwanese reporting also did not mention. I wouldn't jump to conclusions re their ability to track flights though I realise it may be a convenient narrative for GT.
Taiwan: Dang I thought that was Uncle Sam's drone!
I've been wondering about the WZ-7 and other Chinese HALE drones. With the US stating that the Global Hawk is not survivable in a peer-state conflict, despite it being the most capable HALE UAV in the world, will China continue with WZ-7 and other production or quickly move to a low observable platform?
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